NT Journey--Matthew 15
Less Rules, Higher Standards
There are a couple of things I hope you're picking up from the book of Matthew. First, just how radical Jesus' message was to His original hearers. Being so far removed from the time and culture, we have a hard time understanding the major shift in thinking that would have to take place for a typical Jew to really understand and accept what Jesus was saying. Can you imagine if someone came, claiming to be God incarnate and taught things like "keep reading the Bible because it's about me?" We would think the guy is wacky. But this is exactly what Jesus did--turned the whole religious system on its head. Anyone who reads the teachings of Jesus and says, "Isn't that nice" doesn't really understand Jesus.
The second thing I hope you're wrestling with and rethinking is how you live out your own faith. Jesus' teachings didn't just apply to first century Palestine, but they apply to us as well. How many people today live as though what God really wants from us is to go to church? How many people live as though they can somehow earn God's favor by giving money to the church? How many people put more emphasis on going to Bible studies than intentionally caring for the sick and people in need? In the evangelical world, we've often taken the very things Jesus says are less important and made them the most important things. Maybe some of us need to be "resaved." (We'll see this very clearly when we get to the book of John)
For Jesus, being "born again" into the Kingdom is not just praying a prayer, its when we begin to see the world through Jesus' eyes. We intentionally seek to look at things through Jesus' colored glasses and live accordingly. The great thing about being a part of the Kingdom is that I now get to participate with God in redeeming the world. Ultimately, it's His power, not mine, but I get to help! What child isn't excited about that?
In Matthew 15, we see more of the same. The Jewish leaders came to Jesus asking about why Jesus' disciples break the "tradition of the elders." The Tradition of the Elders was the law on top of the Law. The Pharisees were so concerned about people breaking the Law of Moses that they placed laws on top of the laws to supposedly make it impossible for people to sin. So, for instance, the Law says "remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy." There are also some practical outworkings of this law in the Old Testament, but the tradition of the elders would go a few steps further and tack onto that even more prohibitions for working on the Sabbath.
There came to be two problems with this system. First, it took the heart out of the actions. Laws tend to do that. Let's take the example of marriage. Marriage is about the relationship, not about the rules. Sure, there are rules, both written and unwritten, but the purpose of the rules are to enhance the relationship. One such rule in marriage is not to mess around with other people. It's very possible to technically follow that rule, but in actuality break it. You could have an emotional affair, for instance. I suppose it's not technically breaking that rule, but how would that emotional attachment be seen as no big deal? I doubt it. You could add more laws on top of the adultery rule, like "don't be in the same room with the opposite sex," etc. But more rules don't equal more love.
Second, adding all the rules became an unnecessary burden on people. What if you set up all the rules in marriage, wrote them down in a book and your spouse was constantly looking over your shoulder and reminding you of the rules? I would dare say that would not be much of a marriage.
Jesus quotes 29 when He says, "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me..."
It's no coincidence, then that Matthew follows this story up with the story of the Canaanite woman. If you remember your Old Testament, the Canaanites were the people who were in the promised land before Israel got there. They were pagans and God told the Israelites to stay far away from them (or kill them, but that's a story for another time). Remember the Jews were "God's chosen people" so obviously their faith and standing with God was much higher than the Canaanites. But here's the story of a Canaanite woman of all things who has great faith. Remember the story of the Centurion in chapter 8? Well, it seems as though Matthew is piling up evidence for the Jews that they're not as hot as they think they are.
I wonder what this means for us in our situation today? Does it apply? Could there be people, who are not Christians who actually have more faith than some Christians? Think about it.
There are a couple of things I hope you're picking up from the book of Matthew. First, just how radical Jesus' message was to His original hearers. Being so far removed from the time and culture, we have a hard time understanding the major shift in thinking that would have to take place for a typical Jew to really understand and accept what Jesus was saying. Can you imagine if someone came, claiming to be God incarnate and taught things like "keep reading the Bible because it's about me?" We would think the guy is wacky. But this is exactly what Jesus did--turned the whole religious system on its head. Anyone who reads the teachings of Jesus and says, "Isn't that nice" doesn't really understand Jesus.
The second thing I hope you're wrestling with and rethinking is how you live out your own faith. Jesus' teachings didn't just apply to first century Palestine, but they apply to us as well. How many people today live as though what God really wants from us is to go to church? How many people live as though they can somehow earn God's favor by giving money to the church? How many people put more emphasis on going to Bible studies than intentionally caring for the sick and people in need? In the evangelical world, we've often taken the very things Jesus says are less important and made them the most important things. Maybe some of us need to be "resaved." (We'll see this very clearly when we get to the book of John)
For Jesus, being "born again" into the Kingdom is not just praying a prayer, its when we begin to see the world through Jesus' eyes. We intentionally seek to look at things through Jesus' colored glasses and live accordingly. The great thing about being a part of the Kingdom is that I now get to participate with God in redeeming the world. Ultimately, it's His power, not mine, but I get to help! What child isn't excited about that?
In Matthew 15, we see more of the same. The Jewish leaders came to Jesus asking about why Jesus' disciples break the "tradition of the elders." The Tradition of the Elders was the law on top of the Law. The Pharisees were so concerned about people breaking the Law of Moses that they placed laws on top of the laws to supposedly make it impossible for people to sin. So, for instance, the Law says "remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy." There are also some practical outworkings of this law in the Old Testament, but the tradition of the elders would go a few steps further and tack onto that even more prohibitions for working on the Sabbath.
There came to be two problems with this system. First, it took the heart out of the actions. Laws tend to do that. Let's take the example of marriage. Marriage is about the relationship, not about the rules. Sure, there are rules, both written and unwritten, but the purpose of the rules are to enhance the relationship. One such rule in marriage is not to mess around with other people. It's very possible to technically follow that rule, but in actuality break it. You could have an emotional affair, for instance. I suppose it's not technically breaking that rule, but how would that emotional attachment be seen as no big deal? I doubt it. You could add more laws on top of the adultery rule, like "don't be in the same room with the opposite sex," etc. But more rules don't equal more love.
Second, adding all the rules became an unnecessary burden on people. What if you set up all the rules in marriage, wrote them down in a book and your spouse was constantly looking over your shoulder and reminding you of the rules? I would dare say that would not be much of a marriage.
Jesus quotes 29 when He says, "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me..."
It's no coincidence, then that Matthew follows this story up with the story of the Canaanite woman. If you remember your Old Testament, the Canaanites were the people who were in the promised land before Israel got there. They were pagans and God told the Israelites to stay far away from them (or kill them, but that's a story for another time). Remember the Jews were "God's chosen people" so obviously their faith and standing with God was much higher than the Canaanites. But here's the story of a Canaanite woman of all things who has great faith. Remember the story of the Centurion in chapter 8? Well, it seems as though Matthew is piling up evidence for the Jews that they're not as hot as they think they are.
I wonder what this means for us in our situation today? Does it apply? Could there be people, who are not Christians who actually have more faith than some Christians? Think about it.
Labels: faith, Isaiah 29, Jesus, law, marriage, Matthew 15, New Testament, rules
posted by Kory at
7:54 AM
3 Comments:
Could there be people, who are not Christians who actually have more faith than some Christians?
Whoa! I never considered that. It is a very interesting thing to ponder.
Sorry, Julie. I didn't mean to blow your mind ;). I know it's a very interesting question for those of us who do believe Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. It's not that big of a question for people who believe all religions are the same. But for those of us who believe Jesus was truly who He said He was, we have to try to wrap our mind around this one. Could it be that there are people who don't have the full truth really live a life of faith better than people who do?
With the first part of this post, I'm not sure if I should respond with "ouch" or "uncle.":)
In regard to the question:
I will say that for much of the last several years I have felt like I have been exposed to a coworker who was not Christian, but seemed to be more Christian than many that professed to be however, now I'm finding that like all people, they too have significant sin potential and I wonder if the difference is not in how we live when we are doing well, but more in how we respond when things aren't well.
Not sure if that makes sense.
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